Obituary for Ernest "Ernie" Johe
Ernie was born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. A picturesque town located in the Bavarian Alps nestled in the foot of Zugspitze mountain. It was well known as a venue for tourism and international ski events. Ernie’s family immigrated to Canada on Ernie’s 9th birthday in search of a new opportunity and adventure. They settled in East Vancouver where Ernie eventually met his wife to be Gloria, his high school sweetheart, at Templeton Secondary school in the summer of 1972. After graduation Ernie went to BCIT to become a steel fabricator where he graduated top of his class. The next step was to find an apprenticeship in the pursuit of full journeyman status. So, Ernie and Gloria loaded up his Datsun station wagon complete with Gloria’s 35 house plants and made their way out to Edmonton, Alberta where Ernie completed his apprenticeship working for Great West Steel.
Ernie went on to become known for his precise and meticulous methods of steel fabrication. He had the opportunity to work on many challenging and recognizable projects such as the Port Mann bridge, the Richmond Olympic Oval, numerous Sky Train stations, the Golden Ears Bridge and many others over his forty + year career as a proud member of local 712.
Ernie and Gloria were married in a small church on July 31st, 1976 and their first born son Michael was not far behind entering the world in April of 1978. The following year the family moved back home to Vancouver after having decided the Alberta winters were too cold! Having settled back on the mainland Ernie and Gloria went on to have three more sons named Christopher (1980), Steven (1983) and David (1985). It was a busy life with lots of camping, hiking, and family trips to places like West Edmonton mall, Barkerville, and Disneyland famously packed into a Chrysler LeBaron. The boys were raised in North Delta (the V4C crowd). A busy house with constant activity such as street hockey, soccer and baseball which Ernie volunteered as a coach for. Ernie also volunteered as a leader for beavers and Scouts Canada which held their meetings at Devon Gardens Elementary school.
After retirement Ernie and Gloria chose Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island to spend their golden years. Ernie loved playing golf, exploring his new community on foot with his dog Sophie, getting skunked by his boys at crib, and enjoying good food and company over a glass of red wine. Unfortunately cancer stole his retirement away from him far too soon. He will be missed.
Ernie went on to become known for his precise and meticulous methods of steel fabrication. He had the opportunity to work on many challenging and recognizable projects such as the Port Mann bridge, the Richmond Olympic Oval, numerous Sky Train stations, the Golden Ears Bridge and many others over his forty + year career as a proud member of local 712.
Ernie and Gloria were married in a small church on July 31st, 1976 and their first born son Michael was not far behind entering the world in April of 1978. The following year the family moved back home to Vancouver after having decided the Alberta winters were too cold! Having settled back on the mainland Ernie and Gloria went on to have three more sons named Christopher (1980), Steven (1983) and David (1985). It was a busy life with lots of camping, hiking, and family trips to places like West Edmonton mall, Barkerville, and Disneyland famously packed into a Chrysler LeBaron. The boys were raised in North Delta (the V4C crowd). A busy house with constant activity such as street hockey, soccer and baseball which Ernie volunteered as a coach for. Ernie also volunteered as a leader for beavers and Scouts Canada which held their meetings at Devon Gardens Elementary school.
After retirement Ernie and Gloria chose Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island to spend their golden years. Ernie loved playing golf, exploring his new community on foot with his dog Sophie, getting skunked by his boys at crib, and enjoying good food and company over a glass of red wine. Unfortunately cancer stole his retirement away from him far too soon. He will be missed.